Disrupted Duels

[Johan Batara]

"Kojiro! Sageo! On the ring!"

Those were the first words that rang inside the young teenager's ears that cold, winter morning. He was woken up at dawn by the servant, and was not at all happy. It was chilly, cool and a good day to sleep. The sluggish attitude that he had was something he did not have often...but if you are to be a loyal and good student, you must obey your elders no matter what.

Kojiro took a wooden sword from the stand by his side and stood up. Even as an adolescent, he was quite tall and quite fit. His black eyes still had the dirt of sleep and were not truly prepared to stare at Sageo, the other boy on the other side of the stone bordered ring. Still, he shook his head and put on an angry mask as an attempt to make his opponent back off. He stepped quietly inside the circular ring and raised his sword. Sageo did the same.

The teacher growled. "I think you are both forgetting something. Fools, are you too stupid to acknowledge proper etiquette?!" The old man was sitting on a blue cushion, his dark grey eyes stern and gruff, but wisdom was still apparent. He was wearing a white robe, which was often worn by the elders and teachers in the Flowing River School of Swordsmanship.

"F-forgive me, master," stammered Kojiro, half-awake. White flakes of snow began to fall from the sky, and similar white dots began to glide below. Kojiro put his wooden sword inside his white cloth belt and turned to the teacher, and bowed with Sageo. They then turned to each other and bowed. As far as Kojiro was concerned, Sageo was a funny jester and a good friend. Swordsman? Tell the gods that, won't change. He drew his sword and smirked at Sageo. The young man chortled softly.

Their teacher stood up, his pair of eyes as hard as stones as he walked towards Sageo, stick in hand. Sageo was too late to dodge the painful blow that the old man delivered on his rear. Sageo went into a low bow immediately and began murmuring apologies. "Forgive me master, forgive me! I ask for pardon!" He groveled some more and tried his best to receive the old man's dirty slippers rubbing themselves on his back. Seeing him walk away, Sageo rose again and tried to look sternly at Kojiro, but the hint of a grin remained.

Sensei Goshiro nodded contently and cut the air with his outstretched hand. "BEGIN!"

Kojiro and Sageo both drew their swords with swiftness and agility. Kojiro tried to stiffle a yawn and raised his sword. Sageo screamed and charged towards him. Kojiro took a sidestep and attempted a horizontal cut at his sprinting foe. Sageo lowered his sword at the right moment and deflected the aimed blow. He quickly hopped back, his sword raised as Kojiro did an overhead slash. The swords crossed, and the boys yelled, trying to beat the other on the ground. Sageo kicked Kojiro in the belly and the young warrior fell on the sand, humiliation in his eyes. Sensei Akagi beamed at Sageo.

Defeat? Never! A dark, hidden rage burst inside of Kojiro as Sageo lifted his blade to perform the coup-de-grace. Kojiro sprang up from the ground, delivering a powerful kick at Sageo's chest, his eyes turning a slight red. His opponent involuntarily stepped back and coughed from the blow. Saliva fell freely from Sageo's mouth as his eyes turned into an angry glare. Yelling with all their might, Kojiro and Sageo charged at each other, swords raised. The blades crossed once more, but they quickly withdrew from each other for fear of other surprise attacks. Tired muscles and adrenaline clashed inside the two youths; their gaze was transfixed on each other, waiting for signs of weakness. Kojiro's eyes were once more a dark black, but harder and colder than before. Snow began to grow larger, and the ground was already covered in white frost.

Suddenly, a well-dressed man rushed outside of the main school's building. He was wearing black robes, and the red symbol of the Kyoda was on his clothing. He was out of breath, and he seems to have run a very long distance. "Sensei Goshiro! Forgive my rudeness, but I must interrupt your session," he said between deep breaths. Goshiro tapped the small gong near him, ordering the duelists to cease. The adolescents panted, sheathed their blades, bowed to the teacher and then to each other. Goshiro nodded curtly and stood to address the man. The man continued. "Kojiro here has been given an urgent message. He must come with me."

Goshiro looked puzzled a moment, then motioned to Kojiro. The now dull and bored boy came striding to the old man after joking with Sageo. "Must I go, teacher?" he said. "What does he ask of me?" The young man stared inquisitively at the Kyoda messenger. Kojiro's eyes showed concern and a slight worry, as if expecting the worst.

The black-robed man bowed and nodded to Goshiro. "I take him with me now. He must speak with Lei Fu...the Shou man whom the young master spoke with about wealth and aid. He must go quickly, but we will return soon, master." Goshiro nodded as the messenger left with a confused Kojiro through the hallway.

Sageo looked at the sensei. "Aid and wealth?" His master turned to him and nodded briefly. "Indeed. Our clan, the Kyoda, have fallen in dire times, young Sageo. Kojiro is one of our only hopes of regaining our glory...but still, that boy is not ready. He does not lack in skill, intelligence, or loyalty."

"Then...what does he lack?" asked Sageo. Goshiro looked sagely at Sageo and gave a grim sigh. "I can see his future, Sageo. He will not be the clan's glory, not without aid. If he is not taught well...he will be the greatest swordsman in the world," he said quietly. "The swordsman who has no regard for life."

[Brokenbone]

Hey, you turn out to be a pretty good writer! Good follow on to the other tale, I hope it continues.

[Aerthrin]

+1

great stuff, waiting for the next installment!

[foaloke]

Nice story and character development. Looking forward to the next edition.